What is field epidemiology
Field epidemiology aims to identify the natural course of a disease. Often field epidemiologists do not start with a clear hypothesis and are frequently put to task when there is an unexpected problem, a timely response is required, or intervention to resolve the problem is required and it must be done in a limited time frame (Merrill, 2013). The branch of field epidemiology is arguably the most exciting epidemiological branches, as it incorporates many of the other facets of epidemiology while operating vey close to the source of the outbreak (Meriil, 2013). Field epidemiologists gather descriptive data (time/person/place), and to work together with public health officials in order to abstract this data from a variety of sources (PHAC, 2012). Field epidemiologists, collect specimens, conduct clinical exams, verify the disease/outbreak, establish a case definition, establish a disease frequency and attack rate, classify the epidemic (common-source/propagated source), and determine who is at risk and when to inform the public (Merrill, 2013). Field epidemiologists often work in teams consisting of varying experience and expertise in order to most appropriately execute control measures, immunization programs, identify risk factors and health protection programs (PHAC, 2012). But perhaps most importantly, the field epidemiologist must identify the source the disease and it's mode(s) of transmission.
Video citation - (Merrill, 2013, 10 Best Deadly Virus, 2011, PHAC, 2012)
Video citation - (Merrill, 2013, 10 Best Deadly Virus, 2011, PHAC, 2012)